Getting my baby to safe sleep on their back

[Coffeemama]

Hi, so firstly my boy is only 2 months old so I'm not expecting him to sleep through or anything like that but I'm really struggling to put him down at night. If he's on my chest I can get him to sleep easily or if I breastfeed him to sleep but when I try to put him down onto the crib on his back he just always wakes up...and then quite often I'm back to square one with the routine of feeding, cuddling etc.

Last night was basically this the whole night and I didn't get any sleep myself. I know if I lay him down on his side or front he would stay asleep but obviously that isn't safe and I definitely couldn't go to sleep knowing he wasn't on his back.

There are several times I've fell asleep with him on my chest though due to sheer exhaustion but again this isn't safe sleeping and I'm worried something could happen. Has anyone got any tips for getting their little one to stay asleep once on their back? I find he likes to snuggle into a muslin which helps but again...same problem, not safe to leave it there for proper sleep...

Thanks

Oh gosh I know your pain. My boy is 16 months now but I still remember those days like they were yesterday. What we found helped was holding baby against our chest stood up then slowly put one hand on back of head and one on bottom and holding on chest as close to mattress as possible and then dropping legs on mattress first and then head. Sounds a bit long winded I know but it helped us a lot. X

Try putting baby in a swaddle to go to sleep. It helps with independent (ie not on you) sleep.

I remember warming the bed slightly before putting down a sleeping child helped. Also with a bedside cot I could snuggle up to DD to get her to sleep then slide away.

What happens if you put him down on tummy, stay with him for 20 mins then gently roll him over?had to do that with my ds. He has ALWAYS slept on his front!

I have a 9 week old, once I've fed, she goes on my chest for 10 mins or so to keep her upright and get her to sleep, once asleep, I flip her over on to her back in my arms and hold her for a bit longer. Once I know she's asleep I get up and move over to cot and make sure I have hold of her hands so they don't fall away from her body and gently lie her down. Most times she does open her eyes and wiggles round and makes noises etc but does settle. I leave her to settle on own and would only pick her back up again if she cries.

Thanks everyone, I will try more of a slower movement then and hold him on his back for a bit once I've flipped him over. And I actually didn't think to let him fall asleep on tummy and then roll him over!

Definitely try a saddle if you haven't - I found using a sleeping bag designed for swaddling was easier (if a bit more expensive) than doing the technique with the cloth.